Ag Nuisance Case Not Dismissed.

The plaintiffs asserted nuisance and negligence claims against the defendant with respect to the defendant’s hog farming operations in eastern North Carolina.  The defendant motioned to dismiss all claims related to “annoyance damages” on the grounds that such claims are not compensable under NC law.  The defendant agreed that damages in a temporary nuisance action such as this are allowed for “diminished rental value; reasonable costs of replacement or repair; restoration of the property to its pre-nuisance condition, and other added damages for incidental losses.”  The court determined that NC law is not clear on the availability of annoyance and discomfort damages in temporary nuisance actions, including amounts for “fear” of damages.  Thus, the defendant’s motion to dismiss was denied.  In re NC Swine Farm Nuisance Litigation, No. 5:15-CV-13-BR, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82601 (E.D. N.C. Jun. 25, 2015).